There’s something wonderfully simple yet satisfying about carrots. When cooked to perfection, they taste buttery, soft, and melt-in-the-mouth. With their natural sweetness and tender texture, carrots pair well with a Sunday roast, an autumn stew, or some creamy mashed potato.
However, cooking carrots using an incorrect method can turn the vegetables mushy or bland. Many people resort to boiling these vegetables without any seasoning, which results in an unpleasant texture and drains them of their sweetness. However, according to one recipe, simmering carrots before adding brown sugar is the key to the perfect taste and texture.
On Allrecipes’ ‘buttery cooked carrots recipe’, they shared: “Boiled carrots are simmered in butter and brown sugar for a delicious side dish that even my carrot-hating family loves! There are never any leftovers.”
Carrots contain natural sugars that intensify as they cook. Adding a small amount of sugar (or even honey or maple syrup) enhances this caramelised sweetness.
Meanwhile, adding butter brings out those flavorus while adding a silky texture. The fat in butter also helps coat the carrots, giving them that beautiful glossy finish and melt-in-your-mouth feel.
How to make carrots tastier
Makes four servings.
Ingredients:
450g baby carrots
65g brown sugar
60g butter
Method:
Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a rolling boil. Chop the carrots into even-sized batons (about 5–6cm long).
Add the carrots and cook for about eight to 10 minutes, or until they’re just tender when pierced with a fork. You want them soft, but not mushy — they should still hold their shape nicely.
Once the carrots are cooked, pour them into a colander to drain off the water, but reserve just a small splash — enough to lightly cover the bottom of the pan. This bit of water helps the butter and sugar melt smoothly without burning.
Return the pot to the stove over low heat and add the butter and brown sugar. Stir gently as they melt, creating a glossy, caramel-like sauce. The sugar will dissolve into the butter, forming a rich coating for the carrots.
Add the cooked carrots back into the pot and stir to coat them evenly with the buttery-sweet sauce. Make sure each carrot is covered so they soak up all that delicious flavour.
Cover the pot and let the carrots sit on very low heat for a few minutes. This resting time allows the glaze to thicken slightly and the flavours to come together beautifully. Give them a final toss before serving warm.